Record-repeating device for sound-reproducing machines



R. P. CHRISTENSEN.

RECORD REPEATING DEVICE FOR SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5. L918.

Patented May 18,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

a? aid/haw mi 1 2 H m/$55 R, P. CHRISTENSEN. RECORD REPEATING DEVICE FOR SOUND REPRODUCHJG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 5, L918. Lfirfi fi fiw Pwmefi May 18 1926) 2 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

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IRASMUS P. CHRISTENSEN, 01E BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-HALF TO CLARENCE OyJOHNSON, OFIBUFFALO, NEW YORK.

RECORD-REPEATING DEVICE FOR SOUND-REPRODUCING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 192 0 Application filed October 5, 1918. Serial No. 257,048.

To all who/n it may concern:

Be it known that LRAsMUs P. Crnusrnxsen a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State.

shown and described; it, however has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of the parts to render the device easier to operate and to reduce the cost of the same.

ith these objects in view, the inventio consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combina tion of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, 7

Figure l is a perspective view of the upper end of a sound reproducing machine of popular style. to which my improved repeating device is attached. part of the cover only being shown.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the cover removed.

Fig. 3 is-a transverse section through onehalf of the upper portion of the sound reproducing machine with the cover removed, the repeating device being shown in normal position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the repeating device in a position in which it serves to automatically return the tone or reproducer arm with its sound box or reproducer to the starting point of the record. or to any other desired point from which the record is to be repeated.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on line -3.

Fig. (3 is'a perspective view oi mng olt'tho stop devices adjustable on the skid oit'guide arm of the device. said skid or guide arm being shown in dotted lines to better illustrate the application of said stop device to said arm.

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the other stop device adjustable on'the skid or guide arm of the device, said skid or guide arm being shown'in dotted lines to better illustrate the application of said step device to said arm.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on line 8-8, Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is ,a transverse section'on an enlarged scale taken on line 9-9, Fig.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on line 10-10, Fig. at.

'F ig. 11 is a longitudinal section taken on line 11--1l, Fig. 9. i

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken on line l212, Fig.3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The reference numeral 1 designates the sound reproducing machine having a casing 2 including a cover 3, partly shown in Fig. 1, hingedto the body portion of the casing in the usual manner. The body portion of the casing has a top wall 4 and a curb wall 5 projecting upward from the marginal portion of said top wall. Within the space bounded by said curb wall is situated the rotatable disk carrier (5 which is secured to a spindle 7 in the usual manner, said spindle being rotated by motor mechanism (not shown) with which machines of this type are invariably equip n d.

S designates a disk which is placed upon. the rotatable carrier 6 and against which is held the stylus or other contact device 9 of a sound box or reproducer 10 supported on a vertically swinging end portion 11 ot a tone or reproducer arm 12 arranged for horizontal swinging movement over the record disk, but in machines of different makes the sound box or reproducer is diti'erently supported. all of which. however, forms no partof this invention. .1

I wish here to'state that this invention is designed for use in connection with different makes of sound reproducing machines,

and in preferred form comprises a support or standard 13 having a suitable base l'and a hollow upwardly tapering tubular pofiion 15 into which is adapted to lit 2 non-rotatable sleeve 16 which projects upwardly be; yond'the upper end of said standard and is provided with a longitudinal groove 17 into which the end of a set screw 18 is entered, said set screw being arranged through the wall of the tubular portion of said support or standard so as to hold said sleeve against rotation and also against longitudinal move ment within said tubular portion.

A spindle L9 is fitted into'the sleeve 16 so as to rotate therein, said sleeve is split lengthwise, as at 20, and serves to clamp around the spindle entered therein and act to frictionally hold the spindle against accr dental rotation. The lower end of the spin dle projects beyond the lower end of said sleeve and has a-pin 21 passed therethrough which bears against the lower end edge of said sleeve, thereby holding the spindle against lengthwise movement within the sleeve. I

Formed integral with the spindle 19 at I theupper vend thereof is a channeled 'head 22 comprising a bottom 23 and spaced sides 24. A stop. pin 25 projects from the bottom 23 of said head and is adapted to oscillate within a notch or cut-away portion 26 formed at the upper end of the sleeve 16, the

limit of movement of said stop pin being shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Pivotally mounted in the channeled head 22 by means of a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, pivot pin 27 is a skid or guide bar 28 which is preferably curved in an arc of a circle having its axis coincident with the axis of the tone or reproducer arm 10. Said. skid or guide bar is preferably constructed of bar material of rectangular formation in cross section, and at the end thereof opposite its. pivotal connection to said channeled head, it is provided with a longitudinal bore 29 in .which a shaft 30 is fitted, said shaft having secured toits outer end a weighted eccentric wheel 31. The skid or guide bar 28 has a longitudinallydisposed slot 32 formed in its under side which opens into the bore 29 in which the shaft 30 is journaled, said slot being somewhat shorter than said shaft, as clearly shown in 11. The shaft 30 is provided with a longitudinal groove 33 having an abrupt side 34 and an inclined or curved side extending from the innermost point of said abrupt side outwardly to the outer pe- "ripheral face of said shaft, said shaft being rotatable to move said groove into and out of registration with the slot 32 in said skid or guide bar.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the

support or standard 13 is screwed or otherwise secured to the top wall 4 of said casing at a point in close proximity to the peripheral edge of the disk carrier, and'thg: skid or guide arm 28 extends inwardly from this support on a curved line to a point near the spindle 7, the upper portion of which latter extends through the opening 36 in the record disk 37 placed upon said record carrier.

\Vhen the ski-filer guide bar 28 is properly positioned over the disk, the stop pin 25 on the head'22 is in engagement with one end of the notch or cut away portion 26 of the friction sleeve 16 and holds said her in operative position,.the friction created by reason of the sleeve 16 being split and there fore clamped around the spindle 19 serving to retain said skid or guide bar in operative position, although positively prevented from moving in one direction only by said step pin engaging the end of the notch or cut-away portion 26; \Vhen the tone or reproducer arm is swung td' the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the stop pin 25 is in contact with the opposite end of said notch or cut-away portion 26,as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5.

Arranged on the sound. box or reproducer 10 in any suitable manner is a guide wheel or roller 88, which is designed to travel in contact with the upper face of the skidor guide bars 28, at least in one direction. In

vided with a rubber or other soft contact portion 35), which is adapted to travel ill" contact with the record disk at certain times during the operation of the device, will presently be explained. In preferred form this eccentric wheel comprises a segmentally-shaped solid portion 40 which serves as an over-balancing weight and is secured to the shaft 30 journaled for rotation in the skid or guide bars 28, and a circular rim 41 formed of wire and having a rubber tube surrounding the same which forms the contact portion 39 of said wheel and which is in contact with the curved edge 43 of said seginentally-shaped solid portion 40, the end of the wires being brought together, as at 44, and entered into the solid portion 40 of said wheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The major portion or throw of the eccentric wheel is normally directed upwardly and by reason of the construction described, the weight of the same is greatly reduced, which is highly desirable in a device of this kind.

It will be noted upon examination of Figs. 9 and 10, that the shaft 30 is closer to one of the straight lined edges of the solid portion 4:0 than the other, and when the eccentric is released from the position shown in Fig. 9, this solid portion or overbalancing weight tends to rotate the Wheel in the direction of the arrow 45 in Fig. 9.

The skid or guide bar is provided with two stop devices 46, 47 which are adjustable lengthwise along said bar, the device being formed of a strip of metal bent into the form of a loop 48 into which the skid or guide arm isfitted, said loop having an up- 'wardlyextending arm 49 around which a rubber sleeve or other cushion 50 is placed.

'The loop 48 also has a laterally and inwardly directed arm 51 thereon, the inner end 52 of which determines the point at which the stylus of the reproducer or sound bog: is to be positioned when starting to play a record or when repeating said record. i

To one side ofthe loop 49 a spring retainer 53 is secured, said retainer being riveted' to the side of said loop and being adapted to act against the adjacent side of the skid or guide barto retain said stop device in any position along said bar. Said spring retainer is preferably formed of a strip of spring material bent inwardly to form contact points which bear against the adjacent side of said skid or guide bar as at 54, thence rebent to provide two converging portions 55, and finallybent at a slight an- I gle to said convergingportionsto provide spaced finger pieces 56, which when forced together will move the contact point 54 of 'said retalner away from the skid or guide :bar so as to permit the stop device to be easily adjusted along said skid or guide bar.

When said stop device is positioned at the desired pointalong said skid or guide bar, the releasing of the finger pieces 56 permits the contact points 54 to spring against the side of the skid or guide bar and act toretain said stop device in its adjusted position.

The stop device 47 comprises a loop 57 constructed similar to the loopof the stop device L6, with the exception that instead of having the upwardly directed arm 49. it is provided with an arm 58 extending toward the free end of said skid or guide bar. and to this arm is pivotally secured a trip-lever 59 having a trip pin 60 extending laterally over the top of said skid or guide bar. Said trip lever is also provided beneath its pivotal point with a laterally-directed arm (31 from the-free end of which an upwa'rdl vextending lock-lip 62 projects. said lock lip being adapted to pass through the slot 32 of said skidwor guide bar and enter the groove 33 in the ecccntricshaft 30. lt is to be noted that this lock lip is spaced comparatively close to the axis of the pivot pin '59 -v."l1ereasthe trip pin 60 is a considerable dista'ncefrom said axis. The increased length of that portion of the trip lever having the trip pin (30 thereon and the add l'ional weight of said portion serving all times to position said spring retainer 63, which is constructed lit-2c the retainer 53'of the stop device 46, and acts against the side of the skid or guide arm in the same manner.

The indicating arm (lei of the loop 57 extends toward the pivoted end of said skid or guide arm and the free end thereof is adapted to be positioned over the desired point of the record disk at which the inward movement of the stylus is to be stopped. It will therefore be apparent from the foregoing that the movement of the stylus scc'ured to the sound box or reproducer is in accordance with the distance between the free ends of the indicating arms formed on the stop devices 46, 47 and that these stopdevices are adjustable lengthwise of the skid or guide bar so that the entire record piece may be rotated as often as desired, or so that any portion of the piece may be repeated.

\Yith the parts in normal position the major portion or throw of the eccentric wheel 31 will. as above stated. be directed upwardly so that said wheel is out of contact with the record disk. and when in this position. the shaft of said wheel is positioned with the groove 33 thereof in registration with the slot 32 in the'skid or guide bar. \Vhen the parts are thus positioned. the lock lip c2 of the stop device 47 is passed through said slot 32 and enters the groove 3?) of said shaft. with the abrupt side 34 of said groove in contact with said lock lip. said lock lip being retained in locking position by the weight of that portion of the trip lever 59 having the trip pin 60 extending therefrom. it such times the skid or guide bar substantiallv in a horizontal position. it being thus supported from the channeled head 22 at thc upper end of the spindle Qll. The stop device in is adjusted to a position along the skid or guide bar in whiclrpositimi the free end of the indicating linger 51 is located di-, rectlv over the outermost point of the pla v ing portion of the record disk so that when starting the machine it is simply necessary to position the tone or reproducer arm so as produce the piece on said record disk. Dur

ing the playing of said piece. the sound box or reproducer and the stylus gradually rotate said eccentric wheel is continued in its rotary movement, which causes the operating axis of said wheel to be elevated, thereby inclining the skid or guide bar to the position shown in Fig. 4. During the upward movement of said skid or guide bar, the stylus ismoved out of contact from the record disk, due to the sound box or reproducer being elevated and when said skid or guide arm is inclined suiiiciently, the guide wheel orroller 38 begins to travel along said skid or guide bar in a reverse direction until ln'ought in contact with the stop device 46. When reaching thispoint, the stylus is still elevated from the record disk and is gradually lowered during the latter half of the rotatable movement of said eccentric wheel, this lowering movement being gradual so that the stylus is gently lowered against said disk. As the eccentric wheel begins to move out of contact withthe record disk, the overbalanccd portion of said wheel will continue to cause the wheel to rotate until the groove in the shaft thereof is brought in proper position with respect to the slot in the skid or guide arm and during the last portion of this rotary movement the lock lip (32 of the trip lever 57 rides in contact with the curved face 35 of said groove until the abrupt face 3-4 of said groove comes in physical contact with said lip, whereupon the rotary movement of said shaft and the eccentric wheel thereon is arrested until the guide wheel or roller 38 again operates the stop lever 57.

It will be apparent from the above that it' only a portion of the piece on the record disk is to be repeated, either the stop device 46 or the stop device 47 is adjusted and it is to be noted that by reason of the groove 33 being extended almost the entire length of the eccentric shaft 30 and the slot 32 in said arm being substantially coextensive with said groove. a considerable range of adjustment is provided for the stop device 47, while the range of adjustment for the stop dcviccg-lb is substantially unlimited. lf desired, the eccentric shaft 30 may be extended a greater distance into the skid or guide bar 28, the groove thereof lengthened, and the slot in the skid or guide bar may be correspondingly lengthened so that the range of adjustment of the stop device 47 may be, increased. For all practical purposes, how ever, it is believed that an adjustment of the length indicated by the groove 33 in the eccentric shaft and the slot 32 in the skid or guide; bar meet all requirements of present day reprmlucing machines.

constructed, the gradually increasing ance between the axis of the eccentric wneei and the peripheral edge of said wheel causes a grad ia'l rising of the skid or guide bar during the first half of the revolution of the eccentric, and during the lasthalf the gradually diminishing distance between said -axis and peripheral edge causes a gradual lowering of the skid or guide bar, with the result that the stylus of the sound box or reproducer is gently lowered into position against the record disk and with greater care than can be generally exercised when manually placing the stylus in contact with the disk.

It is also to be noted that by reason of said eccentric wheel being positioned close to the axis of the record disk the rotary movement of said wheel is comparatively slow so that suliicient time is provided for returning the tone or reproducer arm with its stylus and for positioning said stylus into contact with the record disk. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:--

l. A record repeating device, comprising a support, a guide member pivotally secured at one end to said support and normally retained in horizontal position, means at the other end of said guide member for lifting said member into inclined position including an eccentric havinga shaft journaled longitudinally in said guide member, a pair of stops on said guide member, one of said stops including a movable element adapted to engage the shaft of said eccentric and retain the same in normal position.

The combination with a reproducer arm, of a. support having a split sleeve therein, a spindle within said sleeve and frictionally retained against accidental rotary movement therein, means for securing said sleeve against rotary movement within said support, a guide member pivotally secured to said spindle and adapted to rotate therewith and to have vertical movement independently thereof, lifting means at the free end of said guide member, and a stopping device on said guide member serving to limit the movement of said reproducer arm in one direction and acting to retain said lifting means in normal position, said stopping device, having a combined stop and lock element adapted to release said lifting means when engaged by said reproducer arm to cause return movement of said reproducer arm.

3. The combination with a sound reproducing machine having an oscillating reproducer arm and a rotatable carrier on which a disk record is adapted to be placed,

of a support secured to said machine adjacent said carrier, a sleeve secured within said support, a spindle friction-ally entered into said sleeve and having an elongated channeled head at its upper end, means for limiting the rotatable movement of said spindle and head, a guide member pivotally secured to said head and adapted for vertical swinging movement, a stop on said guide member, a second stop on said guide member including a pivoted lever, a shaft journalod lengthwise in said guide member and having a groove adapted to be engaged by said lever, a weightedeccentric secured to said shaft and normally out of contact with said disk record, and means, on said oscillating reproducer arm adapted to engage said lever and disconnect the same from said shaftso as to permit said weighted eccentric to automatically rotate into contact with said disk record, the rotation of said eccentric being con tinued by said record disk to cause said guide member to assume an inclined position and' compel the means on said reproducer arm to travel down the inclined guide member until engaging said first-mentioned stop.

4. The combination with a sound reproducing machine having an oscillating reproducer arm and a rotatable carrier on which a disk record is adapted to be placed, a support secured to the casing of said chine adjacent said carrier and having a vertical bore therein, a split sleeve fitted into said bore and having its upper end projecting beyond the upper end of said support, said sleeve being provided with a. notch.

The combination with a sound reproducing machine having a movable repro ducer arm and a record carrier on which a record is adapted to be placed a support cured to the casing of aid machine adja cent said carrier and having a vertical bor therein, a split sleeve-fitted into said bore and having its upper end projecting beyond the upper end of said support with a notch at said end forming a stop, means for securing said sleeve within said bore to prevent rotating and longitudinal movement thereof, a spindle fitted Within said sleeve and held against accidental rotation by the friction of said sleeve thereagainst, said spindle having a channeled head at its upper end and a projection on said head projecting into said notch to limit the rotating movement of said spindle and head in one direction, a guide member pivotally secured to said channeled head and adapted for rotating movement with said head and for verti- -a'l swinging movement independent of said head, lifting means on said guide member adapted to be brought into actuation for swinging said guide member upwardly, and means on said reproducer arm adapted to cause actuation of said lifting means when said reproducer arm reaches a. predetermined point in its movement.

G. In a record repeating device for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a guide bar, means at one end thereof forv changing the position of said guide bar, and a stop device on said guide bar having a locking portion adapted to retain said means in normal position, said stop device having said locking portion actuatable to release the same from said means and perunit the latter to change'the position of said guide bar.

7. In a record repeating device for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a guide bar having an opening therein, a stop device on said guide bar, and a lifting device carried by said guide bar including a grooved shaft journaled in said guide bar,

said stop device including a pivoted lever,

having a stop member and a lock member adapted to pass through saio opening and enter the groove of said shaft.

8. The combination with a sound reproducing machine and a movable reproduce: arm, of a guide member arranged alone patlr of said reproducer arm pivot" coni'iected at one end, a' shaft journ lengthwise in said guide member and ham a longitudinal groove therein, said guide member having a longitudinal slot with which said groove may register, a stop vice adjustable along said guide member and stop member adapted to said having a movable be engaged by d reproducer ar' stop member having a locking tending through the slot of said her and entering the groove of stop member when engaged by said reproducer arm causing said .iUClQUlg portion to become disengaged from the groove 015 said shaft and permit said eccentric to swing and cause said guide member to assume an inolined position, for the purpose set forth.

9. in a record repeating device for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a guide bar, and a stop device comprising a loop fitting onto said. guide bar, a lever.

secured to the other side of said loop and adapted to engage said guide bar.

10. In a record repeating device for sound reproducing.ma'chines, the combination of a guide bar' having a longitudinal slot in its under side and a longitudinal bore into which said slot opens, a shaft journaled in said bore having a longitudinal groove, an eccentric secured to said shaft, a loop fitting onto said guide bar, a lever pivotally secured to one side of said loop and having a stop member at its upper end extending transversely of said guide bar and an upwardly extending locking portion at its lower end adapted to pass through said slot and enter the groove of said shaft.

11 In a record repeating device for sound.

ing a longitudinal groove, and a stop device adjustable lengthwise on said guide bar in- I eluding a movable stop member having a lockin )ortion ada )ted to extend throu h said slot and engage the groove of said shaft.

afiix my signatures In testimony whereof I RASMUS P. CHRISTENSEN. 

